Decision makers

Tell Congress: Hands Off D.C. Marriage Equality

Washington, D.C. became the first majority-minority jurisdiction to end marriage discrimination when it joined Iowa, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusetts in legalizing marriage for gay and lesbian couples. The first couples began marrying on March 9, 2010 after the marriage law was passed by an 11-2 vote of the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Adrian Fenty in a public ceremony at a historic D.C. church.

The freedom to marry in the Nation’s Capital has survived numerous legal attempts by the so-called National Organization for Marriage.

But, now conservatives in the U.S. House of Representatives are planning to introduce legislation to repeal the freedom to marry in D.C. Because D.C. is not a state, Congress has oversight over the laws and budget of the District. This means that Congress can at will overturn any law including marriage it doesn't like.

Rep. Jim Jordan R-OH, the chair of the Republican Study Committee, told a congressional newspaper that he will push for a vote to repeal the freedom to marry in D.C.

Tell Rep. Jordan to focus on rebuilding the American economy instead of launching attacks against gay and lesbian families.

This petition was delivered to:

RepresentativeJim Jordan

Letter to

RepresentativeJim Jordan

I read with great concern your statement about wanting to repeal the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian families in Washington, D.C. I am writing to tell you to focus on measures that will help, not hurt families including gay and lesbian families.

The law was passed by City’s legally elected City Council and signed into law by its mayor.

Two national polls conducted by CNN and the Associated Press show that a majority of Americans now believe that same-sex couples should have the freedom to marry.

Americans are looking at their gay neighbors, colleagues, and family members and realizing that they deserve the same fairness, the same treatment, and the same respect as everyone else.

And in places like D.C where gay couples are able to marry, the sky has not fallen, and families have been helped, with no one hurt.

Please focus on rebuilding the economy and creating jobs and other real issues that are impacting American families.